Doctoral Defense on Role of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing Journalists’ Competence

The Deanship of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research at the main center of the Islamic University of Minnesota held a high-level academic defense on the evening of Wednesday, November 19, 2025, for the doctoral dissertation submitted by Sameer Ibrahim Waheed Al-Azzawi, a faculty member at the university, in the Department of Digital Media at the College of Media. The session took place at 8:00 p.m. Makkah time via the Zoom platform, in the presence of a wide academic audience and specialists interested in media and digital technologies.

The dissertation, entitled “The Role of Artificial Intelligence Applications in Enhancing Journalists’ Competence at Al Jazeera Satellite Channel - A Field Study,” examined the impact of AI applications on improving professional performance in media institutions, highlighting the rapid transformations in digital media and the interaction between scientific research and emerging technologies.

The examination committee consisted of a distinguished group of academics specializing in digital media, chaired by Prof. Dr. Hanan Sobhi Obeid, Head of the Graduate Studies Department and Academic Vice Dean of the College of Media. The dissertation was supervised and reported on by Prof. Dr. Abdulsalam Sayed Al-Wahati, Professor of Journalism and Digital Media and Dean of the College of Media. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yusra Mahmoud Sobih, Associate Professor of Digital Media, participated in the internal discussion, while the external examiner was Dr. Tayyib Ahmed Al-Sadeq, Assistant Professor of Digital Media at Stardom University in Turkey.

The researcher presented a comprehensive overview of the study’s methodology and field results, demonstrating how AI applications contribute to enhancing journalists’ competence and professional performance within media institutions. The committee then opened the floor for academic discussion, providing observations and evaluative feedback that enriched the dissertation and strengthened its scholarly value.

At the conclusion of the defense, the Deanship of Graduate Studies and the College of Media faculty expressed their appreciation for Sameer Al-Azzawi, praising his scientific effort and choice of a contemporary topic bridging media and modern technologies. They affirmed that this study represents a significant contribution to research in digital media and supports the ongoing digital transformation and implementation of AI applications in media institutions.